There is nothing like success to make you unsure of yourself. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to making a go of a project is the process of doing something so well that you never do anything else for fear of failure. If a writer makes it to the best-seller list the first time out, every novel to follow will be judged by the first. If a baseball player gets a home run the first time at bat, every time he comes up to the plate, the stands will be judging the performance in light of that first hit. If a movie director's first film is a box office smash, it's going to be hard to produce a second film that will do as well.

It sounds crazy, but it is true. It is safer and more assuring to work your way up than being a star from the moment you start. The young man was called into the boss' office to talk about his future with the company. "You've only been with us for six months, and already you've moved from the mail room, to office clerk, to the accounting department, to the head of sales and purchasing. That's an incredible rise in such a short time. I've asked you in to find out what your long-range objectives are so I can make adjustments with our management structure."

The young man began, "Well, within six more months I hope to be a vice president of this company, and with a little help, I'd like to purchase this entire operation and take over your office."

"Well, at least you're direct," said the startled president. "Do you really think you can replace me that easily? I've been at this a long time, you know, and experience counts for something. And what would you do with the company after you take over my office?"

"As I see it," the young man brashly went on, "I'd hold on to the company for a little while, wait for the market to drive the price up, and then, sell it and retire."

"But you're only 26!" the boss exclaimed. "What would you do with the rest of your life?"

"I've never really liked working that much. And besides, I'm good at relaxing."

"No, I don't think that you'll ever have enough money to buy this company in the near future. Not with an attitude like that, you won't!"

The young man replied, "Aw, come on, Dad! You'd only have to loan me the money for a short time."